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From detachment to squadron, 43rd Intelligence Squadron activated

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jette Carr
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 43rd Intelligence Squadron was officially activated during a ceremony at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Nov. 1. The 43 IS is a tenant squadron here, taking the place of Detachment 1, 25th Intelligence Squadron which was inactivated.

The detachment made a transition to a squadron to better support the growing number of flying squadrons and aircraft here, said 1st Lt. Paul Caruso, 43 IS chief of current operations. As a detachment they did not have enough people to provide the level of support the aircraft at Cannon needed.

For this transition, Maj. William J. Howery, Det. 1, 25 IS commander, relinquished command of the new squadron to Lt. Col. Frederick Humphrey.

Howery said being commander of Det. 1, 25 IS had been an honor and a highlight in his career. With 33 percent manning the detachment earned an excellent rating on their first Operational Readiness Inspection. They also lead the charge to deliver a next generation threat warning capability to one of Cannon's newest mobility platforms.

"We are standing here today because you [Det. 1, 25 IS] provided to headquarters that you were ready to be a squadron nearly a year earlier than planned," said Howery. "I'm proud to present you to Lt. Col. Humphrey."

Humphrey spoke about his excitement to be a part of the detachment's transition to a squadron as he assumed command of the 43 IS.

He addressed the Airmen of the 43 IS, "I have heard many great things about you and how well you have been performing. It is a great honor for me to have been selected as your commander. My pledge to you is to do everything I can to enable you to continue to get the job done - to include providing the best training, working and living environment possible."

"As we move down the path of preparing ourselves to fly, fight, and win, I am confident we will be ready to answer the call to serve our nation whenever and wherever the need arises," said Humphrey.

This intelligence unit was created to train and employ direct support operators, who provide specialized threat warning and situational awareness while flying aboard an Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft, said Caruso.

"As a detachment, we've been here since the 27th Special Operations Wing first stood up," he said. "As a squadron, we'll be here for as long as there are flying squadrons who need the intelligence we provide."










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